Eagle-eyed erudites may have noticed a recurring guest in their favorite Slim Aarons portraits. Amid the yacht-side ostentation of silk babushka scarves, lemon-yellow umbrellas, and perfectly tanned socialites sits a far humbler status symbol: bamboo – and it’s back at the top of summer table trends for 2026.
From the French Riviera to Palm Springs, it was a then-‘quiet luxury’ code for class during this golden age of glamour – now revived by modern-day tastemakers like Shea McGee, who is paying homage to the indoor-outdoor roots (or probably more apropos: shoots) of the look with bamboo-trimmed melamine dinner plates and cereal bowls, while Target is serving bamboo-handled flatware at a very democratic $5.
And for those looking to source the table trend a little closer to the source material: Este Ceramiche, one of Europe's oldest ceramic manufacturers, is still producing its iconic Bamboo line, hand-painted since the 18th century. More recently, the house partnered with Moda Operandi's Moda Domus to bring the collection into the 21st century, adding silvery platinum bamboo borders that feel every bit as swanky as the OGs.
It’s very ‘who, me?’– now as expensive (or not) as you please. Ahead, 20 bamboo pieces capable of cultivating a capital-S Scene this summer.
The Round is Homes & Gardens' collection of the must-have pieces shaping styles, trends, and ideas. It brings together thoughtfully curated products that express a single moment – offering readers inspiring ways to style their homes through seasonal themes, emerging looks, and everyday pieces.
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